May 2013
4 posts
10 tags
Summertime, and the Livin' is Easy
It was a horrendous trip back to Indiana. I got stuck in Baltimore after huge delays at the airport, and then since that wasn’t bad enough, I had to evacuate the hotel I was staying in due to someone smoking in one of the rooms and setting off the fire alarms.
However, I have made it back alive. I’ve spent the weekend doing pretty much nothing except resting, eating, and playing the...
14 tags
9 tags
Auguries of Innocence
A great poem by William Blake.
-
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower,
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
And eternity in an hour.
-
A robin redbreast in a cage
Puts all heaven in a rage.[[MORE]]
-
A dove-house fill’d with doves and pigeons
Shudders hell thro’ all its regions.
A dog starv’d at his master’s gate
Predicts the ruin of the...
19 tags
April 2013
25 posts
18 tags
20 tags
10 tags
Recording Session
I just got back from a 3-hour recording session with the Video Game Music Choir. There is nothing quite like that moment of silence at the end of the recording. I think that is one of those experiences that musicians just can’t get enough of. It is utterly captivating.
I will post the recordings as soon as I can get a hold of them. I am really excited to hear the final result.
6 tags
Students From Indiana: 3
It’s official. There are now three students from Indiana who attend the Berklee College of Music. There’s me, some random guy I met last semester whose name I can’t remember, and my most recent discovery, a girl named Stephanie in the Video Game Music Choir. How I participated in this choir for half a semester without figuring this out is beyond me.
Indiana FTW!
15 tags
An Eerie Peacefulness
Despite the tragic events of the past week, today is oddly peaceful. I went on a walk in the area around the Museum of Fine Arts and I was surprised at how quiet everything was. The few people who were about were just calmly strolling along.
How come every day can’t be like this?
27 tags
Cabin Fever
I haven’t had any classes for five days now due to the continuing investigation concerning the Boston Marathon explosions and the more recent shootings. Furthermore, we have been advised to stay indoors so that we won’t get blown up or shot.
I now pose you a question: What do two college students who are locked in an apartment for five days do? Let me give you the rundown.
Sleep...
19 tags
19 tags
19 tags
Registered!
I just finished registering for my classes. For once, it actually went really well. I got into a Klezmer music ensemble, a Hammond organ lab, and an Instrumentation and Score Preparation class with Andrew List. After hearing List’s 21st century piano pieces earlier this semester, I have been eager to study under him.
I also am taking conducting with Isaiah Jackson. Everyone tells me that he...
8 tags
The First Draft
So, I finally finished the outline for my book. I think. Did I ever mention that I am writing a book? Well now you know. I am writing book.
In fact, I have been thinking about this book for years, and I have worked on the outline for months, beginning at the start of this semester.
I honestly don’t know what to think of this outline. All I know is that I have an uncontainable desire to...
11 tags
8 tags
Explosions at Boston Marathon Finish Line
Read the news: Click here
Just two hours ago, there were two explosions at the Boston Marathon finish line. 2 dead, 22 injured. Intentional bombing. Terrible news.
16 tags
Creativity vs Management
Harvard Business Review recently posted a horribly offensive article entitled, ”Seven Rules for Managing Creative People”. Every creative individual needs to read this article, as it clearly explains why non-creative types don’t understand anything.
Read the article: Click here
The negative response to this was so overwhelming that HBR was forced to make edits to...
10 tags
Disney Stole Alice in Wonderland Artwork From a...
Read the article: Click here
What is wrong with you, Disney?
3 tags
Where Does the Time Go?
It’s 6pm already!? I can’t believe it. Today went by so fast that I can barely remember it. Maybe it didn’t even happen.
17 tags
15 tags
19 tags
Thomas Newman
Ok, now this is just crazy. Today Berklee had a Skype interview with the one and only Thomas Newman, the composer for “Wall-E”, “Skyfall”, and “Finding Nemo”. This is the guy who wrote the music for “Finding Nemo”. He is a legend.
He also wrote the music for the film adaption of “A Series of Unfortunate Events”. A terrible film, but a...
20 tags
Roger Ebert Dead at 70 After Battle With Cancer
New York Times article: Click here
Yesterday, beloved and respected film critic Roger Ebert passed away, one day after his 46th anniversary as a film critic. Very sad news, indeed.
14 tags
6 tags
I Am So Sick of Cold Weather
I want it to go away.
13 tags
20 tags
9 tags
14 tags
I Almost Died Today
No, really. It all started when I read this blog post after lunch:
Click here
I stressed about this ALL AFTERNOON. I wanted to drop a nuclear bomb on Walt Disney Studios. I thought it was over. I was about to give up on music, art, everything. It was the end.
Then, literally five minutes ago, I realized that it was April Fool’s Day.
/fail
March 2013
16 posts
17 tags
9 tags
30 tags
Spring Break Round-up
So, as of today, spring break is officially over. Here is a quick round-up of what I did:
1. I tried (and failed) to make homemade rice milk with some of my leftover rice. It was a disaster and it tasted terrible. I am never doing that again.
2. On Tuesday, I attended an Eric Whitacre concert at Symphony Hall. He is mostly known for his incredible choral works and his infamous ”Virtual...
8 tags
Thank You Shota Nakama
Shota Nakama is the founder of the Video Game Orchestra (VGO) and a Berklee College of Music graduate.
Because of him, I had the incredible opportunity to be a part of a performance at PAX East 2013. I experienced so many aspects of the musical journey, from getting the arrangements, practicing, rehearsal, sound check, the performance itself, and all the things in between. I am very grateful to...
30 tags
7 tags
7 tags
30 tags
20 tags
15 tags
14 tags
5 tags
More Snow!
Yep, it’s snowing again.
25 tags
13 tags
Maurice Sendak
This is a hilarious interview with Maurice Sendak, author/illustrator of “Where the Wild Things Are”.
Part 1: Click here
Part 2: Click here
10 tags
9 tags
The 21st Century Piano
Last night I attended a concert at the David Friend Recital Hall. The performer was the virtuoso pianist George Lopez. He played a series of new piano works, including original compositions by Andrew List, a professor here at Berklee. Mr. List’s compositions are brilliant. I will definitely keep him in mind when class registration starts. It would be wonderful to study under him.
All of the...
February 2013
26 posts
11 tags
Video Game Music Choir
Tonight I had my first rehearsal with the Video Game Music Choir. It was really fun! Singing in a choir is oddly addictive.
The Video Game Music Choir (or VGMC for short) is a choir dedicated to the world of video game music. They take video game music, including classic 8-bit tunes, and arrange choral versions of them. They perform every semester at various venues in and around Berklee.
I am...
12 tags
30 tags
14 tags
A Warning to College Profs From a High School...
Read the article: Click here
An informative article concerning the negative consequences of standardized testing in the United States educational system.
14 tags
The Return of Hymns
We had a great BCF last night. There was guest speaker, a musician named Matt Scott. He is immensely influenced by hymns, and he strives as a musician to repurpose these hymns. In an age where churches and “Christian” music are slowly becoming tainted by the shadow of modernity, Mr. Scott asked us to reconsider hymns. He wants to bring hymns back in to the Church.
We all realize how...
